FG policy on mercury emissions head for breaks, Dental association warns

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

The federal government plans to phase out the use of Almagan in Dentistry and Oral Care in hospitals is headed for the ditch.
This followed the failure by some States including Edo to establish the Directorate of Dental Services line of the Federal Ministry of Health.
The measure would have helped to coordinate dental services and preventive measures on oral health diseases in Nigeria in line with the Minimantal Scientific Convention in Japan.
Almagan, is a combination of materials used in filling the tooth in dentistry), including mercury and other metals.
Edo State Chairman of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr. Anthony Osaguona, said meeting the 2020 target year to phase out the use of Almagan may become a mirage due to the absence of the directorate.
He revealed this when members of his executives paid a courtesy call on the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council yesterday.
“Just as it is in the federal Ministry of Health. It is supposed to coordinate dental services, especially with the preventive measures on Oral Health diseases,” he said.
Osaguona, sued for the domestication of the Directorate of Dental Services to correct the anomaly.
He pledged the association’s commitment towards checking infiltration of quacks in the medical profession through adequate sensitization of the public on the roles of dentists in society.
He said not less than 1,000 persons are expected to benefit from the free Oral Health screening by the association as part of activities to mark the 2019 World Oral Health Day billed for March 20, 2019.
Responding, Edo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sir. Roland Osakue, said the threat posed by quackery is not peculiar to the medical profession alone.
He pledged the union’s collaboration with the association.
Osakue lamented the decay in instructors and brain drain bedevilling the medical profession.
The 2019 World Oral Health Day which is tagged: “Say Aaah, take action on mouth health, will among others, feature to feature Road show, and Distribution of Oral Hygiene products.